memeorandum: Rand Paul and Civil Rights (James Taranto/Wall Street Journal)

11:15 PM ET, May 20, 2010

Top Items:

Rand Paul may not be a racist, but he is an extremist — Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy — It's safe to say Rand Paul's first few days as the Republican nominee for the open Senate seat in Kentucky are not going well.

David Weigel / Right Now:

Rand Paul, telling the truth — If we use “gaffe” in its proper, Kinsleyan form, that's what U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul issued to NPR yesterday, and that's what he defended on Rachel Maddow's show last night. He told the truth about his stance on the Civil Rights Act.

The Huffington Post:

Rand Paul On Civil Rights Controversy: I Shouldn't Have Talked To Rachel Maddow [UPDATED] — See new updates below. — The morning after he declined to endorse the totality of the Civil Rights Act in his much-discussed appearance on the Rachel Maddow Show, Dr. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) …

Discussion: The Corner on National …, Ben Smith's Blog, TPMDC, The Politico, Raw Story, Newsweek Blogs, Gothamist, Little Green Footballs, Balkinization, Beltway Confidential, The Moderate Voice, Pam's House Blend, Washington Monthly, alicublog and Swampland

Lee Fang / Think Progress:

Exclusive: DeMint Says He Disagrees With Rand Paul On Civil Rights, Needs To ‘Talk To Rand About His Positions’ — Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) endorsed anti-government extremist Rand Paul (R-KY) in the Kentucky US Senate primary, funneling money and resources for his successful campaign.

Discussion: Right Now, Hot Air, Washington Monthly, TPMDC, Balloon Juice, Page One, Crooks and Liars, The Hill, Barefoot and Progressive, Althouse and Firedoglake

Mike Memoli / Real Clear Politics:

Paul: I Support the Civil Rights Act — Reacting to an avalanche of criticism over his perceived views of the Civil Rights Act, Rand Paul's campaign issues this statement today: … Sphere It!

Discussion: The Caucus, The Politico, TPMDC, TPMMuckraker, The Reaction, Crooks and Liars, MyDD, Think Progress, Daily Kos, Below The Beltway, New York Times, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, The Rachel Maddow Show, Outside The Beltway and FrumForum

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:

Paul blames ‘loony left’ for civil rights focus — Rand Paul lashed out at the “loony left” for pressing him on his view of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in an interview with Laura Ingraham this morning. — “I've never really favored any change in the Civil Rights Act,” he said.

Discussion: CNN, Page One, Newsweek Blogs, Firedoglake, TPMDC and Barefoot and Progressive

Ezra Klein:

Area politician has some explaining to do — Rand Paul is predictably walking his statements on the Civil Rights Act back as fast as he can. “Let me be clear,” he says in a statement released today. “I support the Civil Rights Act because I overwhelmingly agree with the intent of the legislation …

Discussion: USA Today and The Daily Dish

James Taranto / Wall Street Journal:

Rand Paul and Civil Rights — A rookie mistake feeds a left-wing smear. — Rand Paul was 1 when Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Now 47, he is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate from Kentucky, his first ever foray into politics. To his evident surprise …

Discussion: Townhall.com, The Speakers Lobby, Salon, American Power, Politics Daily, Guardian, Democratic Strategist, The Daily Beast and The Corner on National …

Washington Post:
Rand Paul comments about civil rights stir controversy

Discussion: Beltway Confidential, The Buzz, Liberty Pundits Blog, The Rachel Maddow Show, Facing South, PostPartisan, Real Clear Politics, The Note and Right Now

David Weigel / Right Now:
Rand Paul in '02: I may not like it, but ‘a free society’ …

Discussion: The Plum Line, New York Times, Washington Monthly and Ben Smith's Blog

Bruce Bartlett / Capital Gains and Games blogs:
Rand Paul is No Barry Goldwater on Civil Rights

Discussion: Erick's blog, Washington Monthly, The Volokh Conspiracy, The Huffington Post, Newsweek Blogs, Page One, Right Now, Cato @ Liberty and Mother Jones

Jake / Page One:
Rand Paul Made Same Racial Comments in 2002

Discussion: CNN, The Hill and TPMDC

Howard Fineman / Newsweek Blogs:
Rand Paul and D. W. Griffith

Discussion: NewsBusters.org and NPR Topics

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Paul won't back repeal of 1964 act

Discussion: The Plum Line, The Politico, DISSENTING JUSTICE, CNN and TPMDC

Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
In Defense Of Rand Paul (Kinda)

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, Outside The Beltway, The Atlantic Online, FiveThirtyEight, The Other McCain and Newsweek Blogs

Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
What do Rand Paul's patrons think of Civil Rights talk?

Discussion: TPMMuckraker, TPMDC, The Swamp and TPM LiveWire

Political Punch:

Exclusive: President Obama To Replace Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair* — ABC News has learned that President Obama will replace the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair (ret.) His resignation will come as soon as tomorrow, sources tell ABC News.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Power Line, Politics Daily, Laura Rozen's Blog, Washington Post, The Corner on National …, NO QUARTER, The Atlantic Online, The Foundry, Talking Points Memo, Hot Air, Newsweek Blogs, Emptywheel, TPMDC, Israel Matzav, Daily Kos and The Washington Independent

Michael Anton / Weekly Standard:
Obama Has “More Confidence” in Brennan?

Discussion: The Corner on National …, Gateway Pundit and Weasel Zippers

Mark Mazzetti / New York Times:
Blair to Leave Intelligence Post After Rocky Tenure

Discussion: PostPartisan, Swampland and Mediaite

Eileen Sullivan / Associated Press:
National intelligence director resigning

Discussion: Outside The Beltway and newsfeed.time.com

Agence France Presse:
Obama's intelligence czar to resign: US official

Discussion: Townhall.com

Brady Dennis / Washington Post:

Senate clears way to vote on financial reform — The Senate voted Thursday afternoon to end its three-week debate on a bill to rewrite the nation's financial regulations, paving the way for a final vote on the landmark legislation. — The 60-to-40 vote — the minimum required to end debate …

Brian Beutler / TPMDC:
Senate Passes Wall Street Reform Bill

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Blue Arkansas and SENATUS

Meredith Shiner / The Politico:
Brown key to Wall St. bill passage

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, CNN and The Note

Wall Street Journal:
Senate Passes Financial Overhaul Bill

Discussion: The Corner on National …

reason-contest.s3.amazonaws.com:

And The Winner of The Everybody Draw Mohammad Contest is... To remind readers of the stakes: In recent months, a Swedish cartoonist that sketched Mohammed as a “roundabout dog” as part of a planned street installation was assaulted during a lecture and, the following week, two extremists attempted to burn his house down.

Discussion: Hot Air, Pajamas Media, Instapundit, Balloon Juice, Dean's World, Townhall.com and Washington Post

Mark Steyn / The Corner on National Review Online:

Everybody Draws Mohammed Day — By: Mark Steyn — Veronique, I initially had mixed feelings about Everybody Draws Mohammed Day. Provocation for its own sake is one of the dreariest features of contemporary culture, but that's not what this is about. Nick Gillespie's post reminds us …

Discussion: Big Hollywood, The Jawa Report, Michelle Malkin, Hot Air, RedState, The Daily Caller, Liberty Pundits Blog, Don Surber, Hit & Run and Gateway Pundit

Jordy Yager / The Hill:

GOP lawmaker blasts Mexican pres. comments as inappropriate — Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) blasted Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday, calling the visiting dignitary's remarks on Arizona's recently implemented immigration law “inappropriate.” — Earlier Thursday …

Discussion: Fox News, Another Black Conservative, The Corner on National …, Weasel Zippers and The Note

Rasmussen Reports:

71% in Arizona Now Support State's New Immigration Law — Arizona voters now support the state's new immigration law more than ever and are still more inclined to think the law will be good for the state's economy rather than bad. A lot of voters in the state are thinking it's payback time …

Discussion: Wake up America, Weasel Zippers, Liberty Pundits Blog, Scared Monkeys and National Review

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Video: Democrats give Mexican president standing ovation for dumping on Arizona

Discussion: Top of the Ticket, The Caucus, Weasel Zippers, RedState and Confederate Yankee

Fox News:
Calderon Criticism of Arizona Law Overlooks Mexico's Tough Immigration Policy

Discussion: Hot Air, National Review and Newsweek Blogs

The Huffington Post:

Little Girl Who Challenged First Lady Is Right: Obama Is Deporting More Immigrants Than Ever — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — A little girl became the face of the nation's immigration debate on Wednesday, when she told First Lady Michelle Obama about her mother's fear.

Discussion: FrumForum, Suburban Guerrilla and Don Surber

Oscar Avila / Chicago Tribune:

Immigration crackdown for Illinois — Feds to step up enforcement — In the midst of an outcry over illegal immigration and Arizona's new crackdown, a top Department of Homeland Security official visiting Chicago on Wednesday said his agency intended to step up enforcement in places such as Illinois.

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and Hot Air

Ed O'Keefe / Federal Eye:
Mother of student who questioned Michelle Obama will not face action

Discussion: Gothamist, Politics Daily, Beltway Confidential and Immigration Chronicles

Glenn Thrush / The Politico:

Gibbs mum on Sestak job offer — Don't ask the White House if Obama aides tried to force Joe Sestak out of the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary by offering him a job. They are keeping mum on the controversy. — Press Secretary Robert Gibbs deflected a barrage of questions about reports …

Discussion: Associated Press, CBS News, Weekly Standard, Right Now and Beltway Confidential

Sam Youngman / The Hill: Gibbs mum about Sestak's job offer

Lois Romano / Washington Post:
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate hopeful Sestak goes against the grain

Discussion: CNSNews, DownWithTyranny!, NewsBusters.org and Weekly Standard

The Huffington Post:

Wall Street Power Play: Bankers In Bizarre Showdown With Auto Dealers — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — Wall Street has found itself battling auto dealers in a last-ditch effort to block an amendment opposed by big banks from coming to the Senate floor. The bank lobbyists are working to persuade …

Discussion: Firedoglake

Annie Lowrey / The Washington Independent:
What Happens Next to the FinReg Bill?

Discussion: MyDD, Daily Kos, Ezra Klein, Open Left and Firedoglake

WDSU-TV:

Fishermen Report Illness From BP Chemicals — Toxicologist Says Chemicals Harmful, Can Lead To Death — LAFITTE, La. — More and more stories about sick fishermen are beginning to surface after the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. — The fishermen are working out in the Gulf …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars

Juliet Eilperin / Washington Post:
EPA demands less toxic dispersant

Discussion: New Orleans Times-Picayune, Associated Press, NO QUARTER, Recent Updates …, Mediaite, Newsweek Blogs, Firedoglake, Emptywheel, Mother Jones, Climate Progress, New York Times, Connecting.the.Dots and AMERICAblog News

Victoria Gill / BBC:

Scientists make ‘artificial life’ — The synthetic cell looks identical to the “wild type” — Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell. — The researchers constructed a bacterium's “genetic software” and transplanted it into a host cell.

Discussion: Hot Air, Don Surber and Truthdig

Zev Chafets / New York Times:

Op-Ed Contributor: The Rush Limbaugh Victory — THERE are many theories for why very conservative Republicans seem to be doing so well lately, taking their party's Senate nominations in Florida, Kentucky and Utah, and beating Democrats head-to-head in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia.

Discussion: Freedom's Lighthouse, Power Line, Moonbattery and Prairie Weather